Bed



March 9 1926. 1,575,871

S. B. SKI-AR BED Filed April 21, 1924 3 sheets-sheet 1 March 9 1926.

s. B. sKLAR BED Filed Aprila, 1924 I; mmm 7 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

invento/c Patented Mar. 9, 1926.

SAMUEL B. SKLAR, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

BED.

Application led April 21, 1924. Serial No. 707,959.

To all whom z't may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL B.' SKLAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, county of Shelby, State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beds; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others'skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to beds, and more particularly hospital use. Y A general object of my invention is to provide a bed of the character referred to enabling` ready removal or changing, with a minimum disturbance of the patient, of pad and mattress parts ofthe bed, andthe substitution for certain pad or mattress parts of heating or cooling elements in position best suited to the welfare of the patient.

Another general object of my invention is to provide such a bed having a minimum of structural parts requiring movement or ad justment in effecting the changes and substitution referred to, and which in conse-l quence can be manufactured economically and will beeasy to operate.

In carrying out these objects and other objects of general utility, I havekdesigned a bed in which the mattress and its superposed pads are divided into a pluralityof independent sections, with supporting frames therefor mounting the mattress and pad sec-- tions upon a bedstead of the ordinary type, the supporting frames being movable along the bedstead and removable therefrom to enable the desired interchange of position of the mattress sections or the substitution for certain of such sections of a cooling or a heating element.

. Preferably, two major sections of equal length, and a single shorter section, with correspondingly dimensioned y separate' supporting frames, are provided. Preferably also, additional supports are provided, on

one end 'of each of the major supporting frames, so as to support the shorter mattress section between them without requiring the use of that rsections own supporting frame, the additional supports being formed for the more ready insertion and removal of the shorter mattress section to and from its intermediate position by a sliding movement of that section along the supports, and the to beds for invalids and general additional supports being movable to re-l tracted position to enable the two major supporting frames with their mattress sections to be brought into end to end contact, that is, without the shorter mattress section between them.

In one arrangement contemplated by my invention, the shorter mattress section is placed between the two major sections in the manner stated above, to provide a continuous body support, the remvoal of the shorter mattress section by sliding it outwardly on al supports of the part to be removed be-` nea-th the body of the patient and the insertion, by a like inward sliding movement, of

the part to be substituted.

In another arrangement of parts contemplated by my invention, the two major supporting frames with their mattresses and pads are brought into end-to-end contact, in the manner stated above, and the shorter supporting frame vis utilized to support the shorter mattress section or the heating or cooling element at the head or foot of the bed, as desired. 'p

The` objects and principles Yof my invention, including the foregoing objects and principles, will more fully appear from a concrete embodiment thereof hereinafter described and illustrated'in the' accompanying drawings forming a part hereof. It is to be understood, however, that the concrete embodiment referred to is merely illustrative of my invention and that various, other vspecific embodiments may bemade within f Fig. 4 is a side elevational view, similar to Fig. l, but showing my improvements in a different arrangement of parts;

Fig. 5 is a top plan View, on an enlarged scale, of the supporting frame for one of the two long or major mattress-sections;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional l view of the supporting frame on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 7 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the box containing the electric heating element employed, the cover of the boX being shown partially open to show the heating element.

In Figs. l and 4, my invention is shown as appliedto an ordinary bedstead such as isv customarily used in hospitals, the side rails l of which are disposed at a greater height above the floor than is customary in bedsteads of general household use. However, it is to be understood that my invention is equally applicable to bedsteads of ordinary height in general household use.

In the particular embodiment of my invention here chosen to illustrate its principles, three mattress sections 2, 3 and 4, are employed, together with the pads 2', 3 and 4 usually employed therewith, the mattress sections 2 and 3 being preferably of the same length and relatively long to constitute the major mattress'sections and the mattress section 4 being a relatively short section for ease of handling in arranging the same in the various positions desired with respect to the major mattress sections. i

Separate and independently movable su porting frames are provided for all three of the mattress sections or units referred to, although in certain arrangements of the parts, as already stated, the separate supporting frame for the short mattress section is .not employed. The supportingframes for the two major mattress sections, indicated as a whole by the numeral 5 on Figs.' l and 4, are identical in construction and dimensions, while the supporting frame for the short mattress section, indicated as a whole by the numeral 6 on Fig. 4, is a shorter frame to correspond to the short mattress section and lacks the additional supports, later to be more fully described, with which the first mentioned supporting frames are equipped.

Referring now more supporting frames 5 for the major mattress section, as shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6, each comprises a horizontally disposed, rectangular top frame, the/y particularly to the 'rails or bars of which are right-angular in cross-section to form an upstanding outer wall 7 and a horizontal ledge 8 about the entire frame, the horizontal ledge forminga support for the mattress section 0r unit thereon and the upedges of the supporting right boundary wall confining the mattress unit to its supported position. A leg; at each of the corners of the top frame serves to -support the same upon the opposite side rails l of the bedstead. A pair of legs 9 at one end of each top frame is projected slightly above the upper edge of the top frame to provide more extended end abutments for the frames against the head and foot of the bedstead when these frames are positioned as shown in Fig. l, which is thev position of more general use of these framesv upon the bedstead. The opposite pair of legs l() preferably have their top surfaces flush with the upper edge of the top frame. The legs are preferably of angle iron to engage about the corners of the top frame as shown, their lower ends, when the support-- ing frame is positioned on the bedstead as shown in Figs. l and 4, resting upon the horizontal ledge of the right-angled side rails l of the bedstead and with the outer side faces of the legs engaging the inner faces of the upstanding wall of the side rails. The supporting frames are thus positioned upon the bedstead, restrained from` lateral movement therefrom, until intentionally lifted for their removal, while at the same time they may be moved longitudinally of the bedstead.

The short 'supporting frame 6 for the short mattress section or unit is identical with-the construction of the longer supporting frames, thus far referred to. y

As already stated, in one arrangement of the parts, the short mattresssection or unit is designed to be supported between the two longer or major mattress sections or unit-s and to be removed to enable theattendant to reach the body of the patient for bathing and treatment or for the substitution of a heating or cooli. g element. In this arrangement of therparts, the two major supporting frames are positioned against the head and foot of the bed as shown in Fig. l. The short supporting frame 6 may, if desired, be positioned upon the side rails of the bedstead between the major supporting frames, to support the short mattress unit and its pad in the intermediate position referred to. This does not, however, permit of the desired ready and easy removal of theA short mattress unit due to the necessity of lifting that unit suliciently to clear the upstanding frame, and moreover the supporting frame in its inter1nediate position offers a substantial obstruction to the attendants reaching the body of the patient for bathing or treatment. Preferably, therefore, additional supporting elements for the short mattress unit are provided on the opposed or inner ends of the4 major supporting frames, these additional support-ing elements being designed to avoid the objectionS the 1159 0f the Short supner end oeach of the major supporting frames 5, slidably mounted between the un-4 der face of the end rail of the top frame 5y and the upper face of a cross rail 13 extend- .ing between the legs 10, as shown in Fig. 6. The opposite depending flanges 4120i the bar .114 by contact alternately with the oppositesideedges of vthe cross rail 13, respectively, vlimit the outward or projecting Inovemeint and the inward or retracting movement of the bars 1 1,K the crossrail 13 being set inwardly sutiiciently, as shown in Figs. 4-a-nd 6, to enable t-he supporting frames 5 .to be brought into actual end-to-end contact. Then the bars 11 are projected outwardly, as shown in Figsxl and 6,'l they afford opposite ledges for the support of the short mattress unit 4, which may beinserted into supported position by sliding it along theV bars 11 laterally of the bed from either side thereof, and may be withdrawn in like manner. vVlien it is desired to position the two major supporting frames with their f mattress units and pads in end-to-end contact, the short mattress unit is withdrawn and one or the other or both of the-major supporting frames are slid along the bed rails to effect the Contact, such movement retracting the supporting bars 11 upon contact of a supporting frame therewith.

A heating or a cooling unitor both may be provided, either of which may be substituted for the short mattress unit inthe intermediate position'between the two major mattress units as those major units are shown spaced in Fig.- 1 or in an end position at the head or the foot of the bed, the

two major units thenI being arranged in end.-

to-end contact as shown in Fig. 4. In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, a container or box 14 is shown, of substantially the same dimension's as the short mat'- tress unit 4, and having an electriciheati-ng element 15 therein, with terminals connected to the switch 16. A slidable cover-1 is prothe box for repairs or replacement of the heating element.

The same box may also be used "as a cooling unit when the cooling medium employed is such as not to injuriously affect the material of the electric heating element, or another box, withthe heating element omitted mav be provided.' The heating or cooling unit may be employedwith or without the pad 4 superposed thereon. The box, employed as a heatingunit, isl shown in Fig. 4 installed at `the foot of the bed with the pad 4 superposed thereon, the short supporting .frame 6 being positioned upon the Side rails vided for the box-so as to enable access to of the bedstead to support the heating Iunit and pad. Should the treatment o't'` `the patient necessitate the useof the heating unit at thel intermediate position hereinbefor'e referred to, the short supporting frame together with the heating unit and pad are removed .from' the position shownin Fig. 4, the major supporting yframe nearest the foot of the bed is slid along the bed rails to the position shown in Fig. 1, the supporting bars 1 1 are pulled outwardlyand the heating unit, with the pad 4 superposed thereon, if desired, slid along the bars 11 into the position shown in Fig. 1 as occupied by the,..-'

short mattress section 4, and .thepad 4f. Should the heating unit be required in position at the head of the bed, both major supporting frames with their mattress units and pads are moved in end to end contact as far as they will go toward the foot of the bed and the short supporting frame with the heating unit and pad mounted uponr the side rails of the bedstead in position at its head corresponding to the position shown in Fig. 4 as occupied by those parts at its. foot.

My invention further contemplates a convenient electrical equipment upon the bedstead'inself both for the current supplyto the box when employed asa heating unit is shown in Fig. 4 as inserted between the/ rearmost outlet socket and the switch 16 of the box \14 `so as to employ that box .as a heater unit, and an electric lamp 22 is shown in Fig. las connected with an intermediate outlet socket, the stem 23 of the lamp being `and for illumination for convenence ot the patient in reading or ofthe attendant in.

roo

provided with a clip 24 engaging the side` 'y rail of one of the mattress supporting frames 5, to more seclrely sustain the lamp in position.

An adjustable hea I and back rest is also preferably provided,comprising a U-shaped 'round bar 25 having flattened and perforated terminal portions-26, outwardly curved and reduced in thickness to snap over holding pins 27, projecting from the mattress supporting frame 5. A rigid cross rod 27 between the army'of the bar 25, just above the terminal portions referred to. .serves to impart rigidity to the structure. while straps '28 of leather, canvas or the like extending between the arms of the bar above the cross rod 27, provide the head and back rest with a flexible body portion within the contines of its rigid framework. An adjustable supi porting brace orth'ehead and back` rest provided, comprising two notched side bars.

[ 29 united by a cross rod '30, holding pins 31,

one projecting fromeach Side rail of the mattress-supporting frame 5, being provided to engage in'the notches of the side bars 29 to support `the headand back-rest and permit 'its adjustment to the diering inclinations desired.

AThe head and back rest mayjcbe rotated, about the pivotal connection of the side bars 29 therewith, to the position, shown in dotted lines in Eig. l, against the head frame of the bedstead, to 'providey a clear space enabling the patient to lie fiat uponthe bed. l

As will be seenV from Fig. l, each of the major supporting frames .5 are provided with the holding pins 27 and 31, so that the adjustable body rest referred to may be transferred from the headr to the foot of the bed, in case the treatment requires elevation being )separately lmountable upon and re` movable from the side rails of (the bed and slidable along said side rails, and a heater unit of dimensions adapted `for. its substitution for said relatively short mattress unit upon the supporting frame for said mattress unit 4in making up said bed.

2. In an invalid bed, the combination set vforth in claim 1`in which the heater unit .j includes an electric heating element, and

' rails of said' bed and outlet sockets spaced line-.wire conduits mountedvupon the side along said line-wire conduits.

3. dIn an .invalid bed, the combination of a mattress formed of separate sections or units, and one of said units being relatively short measuredv in the direction of the length of said bed, separate su. porting frames, one forfeach unit, adapte to supportsaid units by the unattached disposal 4of .said units thereon, said supporting frames being, separately mountable upon and removablefrom the side rails o said bed and slidable along said side railsfand a container for a cooling medium of dimensions adapted for its substitution for said relatively vshort mattress unit upon the supi porting frame for said relatively short mattress unit in making rup -said bed;

4. In an invalid bed', the combination of' a mattress formed of separate sections or units, aheate'r unit of dimensions adapted for its'substitution for o ne ofsaidw mattress umtsnin making up said bed, an electric .rail,saidequipment comprising twourelastanding walls of said side rails 'and-:slidheatingf-element in said heater unit, linewire conduits mounted upon thefside rails of` said bed and outlet sockets spaced along said line-wire conduits.

. In an invadid bed, the combination of or units each' of` a width to extend across kthe bed, one `of said unitsbein shorter than.l the other two measured in the directionV of the length of said bed, supporting lframes lforl said other two mattress units adapted to be mounted in end-spaced relation on said bed and each having a horizontal support-` ing surface and an'y upstanding` .flange encompassing the sides of the supported mattress unit, and means for removably mounting said shorter mattress. unit between said 6. In an invalid bed, the combination of a mattress formed of three separate sections or unit/s, eachor` a width to extend across the bed and two of said units .being relaj tivelyA long and one relatively short ymeasured inthe direction of the length of said bed, supportingframes for said relatively long mattress units arranged on said bed to support saidrelatively long units in endspaced. relation, and means adapted to removably mount said relatively short mat'- tress unit between said relatively lon units, said` means y,comprising lat-toppe bars mounted on the ladjacent end portions of said supporting frames and extending transversely 'of said bed.- t f '17. Il an invalid bed,`the combination'set stantially the dimensions of said relativelyv short mattress unit and adapted to be' mattress unit in making Aup said bed.

8. An equipmentvforbeds of-the type havingside rails, right-angled in cross-section to provide a horizontal ledge vand an vupst-anding outer ysidefwall for each side tively ,long mattress-supporting frames and one relatively short mattress-su )porting frame, the over-all length of y,sai frames when --in end -to end contact substantially spanning the distance between the head and foot of the bed to beefuipped andeeachV supporting frame being o width of fthe bed, each said supporting frame being provided with legs adapted to mount said frame upon the side-rails' of said bed with the legs between the opposite -upablecalong said rails, separate 'mattress sections or units, two relatively long.v and 'onev relatively short, to fit said supporting..

frames, and a container or box of substan- 130 7o ya mattress formed of three separate sections forth in claim A6, and a heater unit of sub 1i0-5f substantially the 9. An equipment for beds comprising thev Q combination setforth in claim 8,' and lin an electric heating element. a

l0. An equipment for beds, comprising the combination set forth in claim 8, and

Whichthe container or box is equipped with long mattress-supporting frames .is provided With means adapted to support Said ends wheny said supportingr frames with said relatively short mattress unit between said ends adjacent aref spaced aparta distance equal to the length of said mattress unit, said means comprislng {lat-topped bars, one

,movably Inountedon each of said -support- I ing .frames for projction outwardly of said ends to support sal mattress unit and for 'retraction to permit end-to-en'd contact of said supporting frames. l in which one endof each of said relatively signature` y SIAMUEL B. SKLAR.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my 

